Page 52 of The Encore’s Crown

“Great lyrics, is that the next song you're working on?”

“You know exactly what I'm talking about.” Unfortunately, I do. He glances at the door. “When Rafe and Kasia find out—and they will—there’s going to be hell to pay.”

My jaw tightens.

“Nothing happened.”

My shoulder stings in disagreement. I glare at him, then he gives me a tired look that cuts through every joke.

“I know you.”

That takes some of the fight out of me. Rithy means well. He always does, even when he’s enjoying every second of torturing me. Especially then. I drag a hand down my face.

“Then trust me. I know what I'm doing.”

“Do you? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve decided to juggle gasoline next to a fucking blonde bonfire.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, little brother.”

“She isn't one of your usual conquests. Rafe is engaged, to her sister. He's never bothered with getting engaged before. You know what that means. She matters to them.”

“She matters to me, too.”

The words escape before I manage to stop them. Rithy goes completely still. So do I. The room seems to contract around us. Then his expression changes, from teasing to quietly stunned. I look away first.

“You’ve not said anything like that since—”

“Don't make it a thing.”

I walk away and head to the bathroom, I can't deal with what he's trying to make this into. I grab a hotel lotion I don't even need and throw it into my toiletries bag for something to do. He's getting too close to a past I don't want to bring up, a person and a version of me I don't want to think about. I shout to him in annoyance.

“Bus. Nagoya. Remember? I need to get ready and packed. Get out.” I spray deodorant on like I’m trying to fumigate myself.

He watches me for another moment, then he exhales.

“You've got nine minutes.” I wait until I hear the click of the lock before I move again.

I speed brush my teeth then nearly choke on toothpaste. I run through the mental gauntlet while I scrub. Bag. Wallet. Passport. Bass already went with crew last night, check. I spit then stare at myself in the mirror and shake my head. What the hell is wrong with me?

I grab my phone. There's three missed calls from management, two from Rithy, one from Ronan, and a message from Rafe consisting of a single question mark. Nothing from Natalia. I stare at the screen longer than I should. Of course there’s nothing. I didn’t message her either, because we're both idiots. The only thing we know how to do well is touch each other. I shove it into my pocket.

Shoes. Where the hell is my other—I find it beneath the edge of the bed, jam my foot inside, grab my suitcase and leave the room with my shirt only half buttoned.

Rithy is waiting by the elevator. He looks me over.

“You missed one.”

He reaches out and buttons the middle of my shirt. I slap his hand away.

“I can dress myself.”

“Evidence would indicate otherwise.”

The elevator arrives. By the time we cross through the doors toward the idling bus, I’m awake enough to regret it. Morning light bounces off the chrome. Crew moves luggage beneath us, doors slam, Elise calls a final head count. Rafe is standing near the bus entrance with coffee, talking to Kasia. Rithy climbs in first, then I follow.

The moment I step inside, I see her.

I stop dead.